The Minneapolis Foundation

?? Our latest grant round just opened! The WCA Foundation, a Signature Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, is now accepting project-based proposals from metro-area organizations that serve women and provide direct services related to health, economic stability, shelter, safety, or education. WCA will accept grant applications until 1 p.m. on December 19. Spread the word and apply today!

? FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ? Our partners at the Northside Funders Group are now accepting proposals for grants from the Northside Youth Enrichment Fund. Spread the word and apply by Jan. 13!

Our work is grounded in hope and possibility. Today, we’re recentering in that mindset with these words of wisdom from Heid E. Erdrich, Minneapolis’ poet laureate. So grateful she could be with us at last month's Minnesota Meeting!

Good morning, grant seekers! Our partners at the WCA Foundation will soon open a grant round offering project-based support to local organizations that serve women. Spread the word and get ready to apply:

What is environmental justice all about? ? Eartha Borer-Bell, Director of the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, gave a powerful answer to that question at the 2024 Minnesota Meeting, which we hosted earlier this month. ? Eartha joined other leaders from NDN Collective, the RE-AMP Network, and the Minneapolis Foundation for a panel discussion on environmental justice and the movement’s future. Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gNZ77qJT

Do you know any youth or young adults with strong ties to North Minneapolis? Would they be interested in helping award $180,000 in grants to Northside youth programs? Could they use an extra $750? If so, please share this opportunity with them. This has been a great youth-led grantmaking effort for the past two years. This year it will be event better. Here's the application link: https://lnkd.in/g_RmHCjk Thanks for spreading the word!

North Minneapolis businesses and nonprofits play an important role in the prosperity of communities throughout the metro area, and the Minneapolis Foundation has a long track record of investing in projects that leverage the Northside’s many assets to fuel economic growth. On Monday, we partnered with Natalie Johnson Lee and the Destination Northside Coalition to offer our fundholders and partners an up-close look at some of the exciting work that is happening there today. Thanks to everyone who joined R.T. Rybak and our team on this journey! We’re especially grateful to the community leaders who shared their expertise with us, including Warren McLean of Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON), Alfred Bangoura, CPRP of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Roger Cummings of Juxtaposition Arts, Frank Brown of Minuteman Press, Malik Rucker of V3 Sports, Anthony Taylor of RiverNorth, Sophie Weber of New Rules, Kenya McKnight Ahad of ZaRah, and Anissa Keyes, MA, LMFT, LICSW, RYT of Northside Epicenter. And huge thanks to the Capri Theater, Jesse Ross at Proximity North, and the team at TAP IN for hosting us!

As you get ready to vote early (?? you could cast your ballot today!) or on Election Day, remember that all Minnesotans will have a chance to vote YES to keep lottery funds working our Great Outdoors. Every year, lottery proceeds fund over $80 million in projects—from the river restoration highlighted in this Star Tribune story, to protection of endangered species in Voyageurs National Park, to pollinator-friendly lawn grants to homeowners. Let’s keep it going by voting YES! ????????

Election Day is approaching and early voting is well underway! If you live in Minneapolis, remember that your ballot will give you an important opportunity to vote YES for kids by approving much-needed funding for Minneapolis Public Schools. In line with our long history of investing in our community, schools, and students, the Minneapolis Foundation enthusiastically supports the school district's levy request. Now go vote, y'all!

In its nearly 40 years in Minneapolis, the Indigenous Peoples Task Force has grown to become an important place of wellness for the Native community in Minnesota. Last week, the organization held a groundbreaking for its latest endeavor – a new center for culture, arts, and wellness that will be called Mikwanedun Audisookon, or “remember our teachings” in Ojibwe. Part of the building’s funding came from a $750,000 Main Street Economic Revitalization grant administered by the Minneapolis Foundation. Our Senior Vice President of Impact, Jo-Anne Stately, took part in the groundbreaking. We’re honored to have played a small role in helping make this important new resource a reality!